Skywarn Recognition Day Nov 30-Dec 1

[KE5NWT]

Beginning 6pm central Friday Nov.30 is the start of SKYWARN RECOGNITION DAY. See the web addresses listed below. The first is a email from my local NWS office in the Austin/ San Antionio Texas area. The second is a site for all the general information. This is a nationwide event. Get on the air and talk to some NWS offices starting Friday at 6pm central.


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All,

This weekend the National Weather Service and the Amateur Radio Relay League will co-sponsor a special event to show why Amateur Radio, or 'Ham' Radio, is so critical to our NWS operations. The event is called a "Skywarn Recognition Day" and we have celebrated it at our office in New Braunfels every year for the past seven years. A national website with more details is located at: www.crh.noaa.gov/hamradio.

This event lasts 24-hours, from from 0000Z to 2400Z on December 1. That translates to be from 6 pm CST on November 30 until 6 pm on December 1. We modify the hours slightly so we can go home and get some sleep. We'll operate from 6 pm to 10 pm on November 30 and from 10 am to 5 pm on December 1. Everyone - including 'Hams', media and emergency planners are invited to visit and take part either day or both days.

Through this 24 hour period, 'Hams' gather from across our 33 counties at our NWS office in New Braunfels to demonstrate their amazing ability to communicate, both long range and mobile close range. They will make contacts with 'Hams' in other NWS Offices across the US as well as with 'Hams' at their rigs at home. They will also make contact across the world. In the past couple of years, we have reached more than 15 foreign countries, including 3 contacts near the Arctic Circle. Our call sign will be KD5UMW.

I'll have coffee and snacks to keep up our strength both Friday and Saturday. I'll also take a bunch of photos through the event. You can see some of the photos from last year's event on our website at: www.srh.noaa.gov/ewx/html/skyrec06/skyrec06.htm.

We ask that you let us know if you plan to come by. Since we're a federal office, we have stronger security rules in effect now. E-mail notice would be just fine.

This is always a wonderful event. Some of the time we're operating radios and some of the time we're just telling stories and getting to know each other. This will be my last one. I'm taking this chance to say "good bye" to all the wonderful 'Hams' I've worked over the past decades.
For the past 35 years 'Hams' have served South Central Texas as Skywarn spotters frequently, reliably and unselfishly. We consider them the "eyes and ears" of the National Weather Service.

Larry
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general info site is here
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/hamradio


73,
Robert KE5NWT